Flickr Basic (All Photos) and Creative Commons Searches

(Be sure to scroll down to seeCreative Commons instructions -- THEY ARE A BIT DIFFERENT! You MUST first click INTO a category of Creative Commons photos to search within it -- you can't simply use the regular search box! Alternatively, you can use the Advanced Search and check the box to search ONLY within Creative Commons images.)

To begin a basic search (searching all photos -- not just Creative Commons) in Flickr, type one or more keywords into the Search box and click Search.

The first image below shows a basic search results page. Many Flickr users allow anyone to view their photos, but do not provide explicit up-front permission for you to use them. To request permission to use a non CC-licensed photo, you can email the photographer via his or her Flickr account (but you must have a Flickr account to do so). Many users will give permission, especially for educational or personal use.

The second image below provides guidance in searching for Flickr Creative Commons licensed photos. You are free to use CC-licensed photos as long as you provide an attribution (give credit) and honor any other license restrictions as specified.

IMPORTANT:The search box at the top of the CC page is actually the "regular" Flickr search, which is definitely confusing. You have to click "see more" to get "in" the CC license pool... (See diagram below).

An easy way to search all CC photos is to use Flickr Advanced Search and check the box that says "Only search within CC licensed photos."